Overview
- Two college students, Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin, safely returned to shore after encountering a great white shark off Stony Beach on July 4.
- The sighting was reported through the Sharktivity app and confirmed by Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries experts.
- Scientists attribute the shark’s unexpected presence to higher seal numbers and cooler summer water temperatures in Buzzards Bay.
- Fisheries officials have launched regular surveys in Buzzards Bay to track shark movements and issue safety advisories.
- Ongoing research will analyze seal population dynamics and temperature patterns to better predict future shark visits and refine beach guidelines.